And now, more stuff from my toy box: the L’Arc~en~Ciel x Pinky: St. collaboration mini-figure set. Also called Larpin, these stylized L’Arc~en~Ciel figures done in classic Baby Sue (Kanaya Yuki) style are highly sought-after collectibles, especially to me since I collect both Pinky:St. and Larc merch.

I had this set shipped in from a friend in Japan, and although they are pricey they were well worth the money. As you can see from the photos, the set of four band members — Hyde, Ken, Tetsu, and Yuki are all present.

Each figure is given accessories that suit their band positions: a mike for Hyde, a guitar for Ken, a bass guitar for Tetsu, and a pair of drum sticks for Yuki. All four band members are also given custom wristbands that each person designed for himself — so that’s pretty sweet. Last but not least, Ken has an actual guitar pick that you can use for yourself.

As for the cons — I guess the price would be the top deterrent for people who want to score these figures. Also, because they are collectibles rather than toys, they would be a bit hard to play with. Losing such small parts is a major bummer, and with the price tag replacing them could be out of the question.

All in all — great for collectors, not so much for casual fans. See you all in HK for the concert in March!